Sporting News’ Matt Hayes and Steve Greenberg offer their picks and predictions for Week 4 of the 2012 season.

No. 2 LSU at AUBURN

Hayes (24-6; 6-4 last week): LSU 38, Auburn 10. Poor Auburn. Where is Cam Newton when you need him? A rally-the-troops game means Auburn will play hard for a quarter—and then LSU will realize that’s Kiehl Frazier back there. Not Newton.

No. 3 OREGON vs. No. 22 ARIZONA

Greenberg: Oregon 59, Arizona 31. There’s much to appreciate about the job Rich Rodriguez and his staff have done with the Wildcats, but this team’s ceiling is seven—maybe eight—wins. What that means: U of A is nowhere near good enough to win in Eugene.

Hayes: Oregon 49, Arizona 42. You’re right, Steve-O, they’re not good enough. But they’re good enough to score 40-plus on a Ducks defense that is in serious trouble this season. But it won’t be enough. Frankly, I’m getting a headache just thinking of two hurry-up offenses trying to out-hurry-up each other. In a hurried-up sort of way.

No. 10 CLEMSON at No. 4 FLORIDA STATE

Hayes: FSU 30, Clemson 20. Seriously, FSU. This is the absolute last time I’m all in. The defense is fabulous, the offense is gaining confidence, EJ Manuel looks like a confident, poised BCS-level quarterback. It all adds up—unless, of course, I’m missing something.

Greenberg: FSU 27, Clemson 24. Maybe that defense is fabulous. Or maybe it simply did what any good team should do vs. Dr. and Mrs. Murray and Savannah State. I really dig the Tigers’ offensive balance and the unpredictability Sammy Watkins brings. Fortunately for FSU, Clemson’s defense is so shaky it gave up 19 points to Auburn.

No. 15 KANSAS STATE at No. 6 OKLAHOMA

Greenberg: Kansas State 30, Oklahoma 28. Is this crazy? I think it might be crazy. For crying out loud, the Sooners won by 41 in Manhattan last season. Hard-core football analysis alert: I’ve just got a feeling about this one.

Hayes: Oklahoma 38, K-State 28. A feeling? We don’t care about your stinking feelings. We care about one team that has better players than the other—and is playing at home. And just so happens to know how to beat the other team (8 of the last 9).

MISSOURI at No. 7 SOUTH CAROLINA

Hayes: South Carolina 26, Missouri 21. South Carolina, like Georgia, will eventually figure out the North Dallas Bulls, I mean the Mizzou, offense and win the game in the fourth quarter.

Greenberg: The real USC 31, Mizzou 20. It’s going to be close for most of the game. The Tigers’ run defense will put up a big-time fight, but the difference will be the Gamecocks’ ability to smash it in near the goal line. This is another defense capable of wearing down—and beating up—quarterback James Franklin and the young Mizzou offensive line.

No. 18 MICHIGAN at No. 11 NOTRE DAME

Greenberg: Notre Dame 27, Michigan 20. Can you think of a better-looking Irish defense since the Lou Holtz years? I cannot. For a most welcome change, ND won’t humiliate itself trying to stop Denard Robinson.

Hayes: Notre Dame 36, Michigan 17. Few remember last year’s game was 24-7 Irish late in the third quarter. It was a blowout that should have been much worse—and then the Irish defense collapsed. This is the game ND has pointed to all offseason.

CALIFORNIA at No. 13 USC

Greenberg: USC 31, California 24. Cal has a lot of confidence coming off that close loss at Ohio State. The Trojans are itching to hit somebody, but underneath that they’ve still got to be bummed out. They’ll start fast but let the Bears back into it. Could be an upset here, but probably not; Cal’s not exactly known for clutch moments.

Hayes: TCU 30, Virginia 16. The F-Dub. That’s massive, Greenie. You just don’t roll into Amon G. Carter and … forget it. In a game of quarterbacks, TCU is way ahead of the curve with Casey Pachall vs. Michael Rocco.

Greenberg: Boise State 27, BYU 20. If the Cougars had won at Utah, I’d be picking them to win here. But I’ve soured on them now. That’s right, I said soured. Sorry to have to resort to such harsh language.

MIAMI at GEORGIA TECH

Greenberg: Georgia Tech 34, Miami 30. I smell a close ballgame. After such a lights-out performance vs. Virginia, the Yellow Jackets will probably come out a little bit flat. They’ve done that many times before. The Canes will take full advantage except for, um, the winning part.